White says nearly 1.7 million students in 642 school districts will be affected by the grants, which were awarded based on a formula of .75 cents per student with a minimum gift of $735.

The School District Library Grant Program funds will pay for such things as library materials to support reading for academics and enjoyment; subscriptions to electronic resources and improved technology to support student research.

White, a former schoolteacher, says libraries are important to help children learn and prepare for the future. He says studies show pupils in schools with strong library programs perform better scholastically.